Wrench



(No Model.)

v15'.. C. MEAD.

WRENCH.

110.445,185. Patented Je11.27,1891.

fwkmw @4L/M?, gli ma@ nTTn STaTns PATENT OFFICE.

EDYARD C. MEAD, OF ELKIIART, INDIANA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,185, dated January 27', 1891.

Application led November 19, 1890. Serial No. 371,940. (No model.)

To all whom z' may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD t. MEAD, a citizen of the lfnited States of America, re` siding at Elkhart, in the county oi' Elkhart and State ot Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVrenches, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to increase the capacity of wrenches by providing means for giving wide ranges oi` adjustment i'or different kinds oi' work.

rlhe invention includes a ratcl1et-wheelcar rying adjustable gripping -jaws and combined with two pawls which are adjustable into and out ot' engagement with the ratchet, so that the same may be worked in either direction, left entirely free, or held rigidly to the handle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation ot the wrench partly in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line .r of

Fig. l.

In the drawings, A is the body or framework of the wrench, having a hollow head d, which is formed on one side with an in wardly-projecting annular flange. Vithin this head the ratchet-wheel l5 lits, and the teeth of this wheel project from the periphery, to be engaged by pa-wls C C', pivoted in recesses on opposite edges of the frame and operating in reverse direction. Each pawl has an inwardly-bent end c, anda spring 2, held in the frame, is arranged to press these ends outwardly to make the other en ds engage normally with the ratchet-teeth. The bent ends are also acted upon by detents 3, pivoted within the recesses. These detents have camsurfaces 4 and finger-pieces 5, and when they are turned so that the cam parts bear upon the bent ends ot the pawls they will be forced inward and held against the pressure of the spring, and the other ends will be held out of engagement with the ratchet. It will be seen from this arrangement that either pawl may be held inoperative, or both may be disengaged from the ratchet, or both may engage the ratchet to hold the saine rigid. -In this way the ratchet maybe rotated in either l direction, allowed to be free, or held rigid. rlhe ratchet is held within the hollow head by a cap or ring D, which has a iange adapted to bear upon the face of the head, and a threaded Harige G, engaging a thread cut within the head. The inner face of this flange bears against the sides of the projecting teeth. The ratchet is provided with a central recess of oblong form, and within this are tit-ted the adjustable jaws E. rlhese jaws have grooves in their edges iitted to feathers projecting from the sides of the recess, and upon these the jaws slide when adjusted. They are peculiarly notched, as shown, one end of each being cut away, as at 7, so that the adjacent end of the opposing jaw overlaps in order to secure a wider range of adjustment by permitting the jaws to move closer together and make the opening smaller. The jaws are adjusted by thumbscrews F, the threaded Shanks of which extend into the jaws. These screws are held by pinsf, projecting from the ratchet at the ends ot' the recess upon which the nuts turn. Only one recess is formed in the ratchet, all the described parts being located therein.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination, the frame having the hollow head, the ratchet located therein and carrying the gripping-jaws, and the pawl for operating the ratchet, pivoted to the frame, the said head having a flange on one side for retaining the ratchet in place and a ringcap on the other removably secured to the head.

2. In combination, the hollow head having a flange on one side, the ratchet within the head, the ring-cap having an inwardly-projecting flange screw-threaded into the head, and a suitable operating pawl for the ratchet, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the head and pawl, the ratchet having a recess, the jaws arranged to be adjusted therein, the means for moving them, the said jaws having overlapping projections, substantially as described.

4. In combination with the head and pawl, the ratchet having a recess, the jaws arranged therein,the thumb-nuts having sereW-threadont of engagement with the 1'atehet,substan ed Shanks engaging the jaws, and the pins f, tially as described. on which the nuts turn, said parts being In testimony whereofIaxmysignature 1n within the recess, substantially as described. presence of two witnesses.

5. In combination, the head, lthe ratchet, i EDWARD C. MEAD. and gripping-jaws, the pawl piv'oted to oper- Witnesses: :ite reversely upon the ratchet, the springs, ORVILLE T. CHAMBERLAIN, and the pivoted detents forholding the pawls WILL H. MIDDLETON. 

